Barnes & Noble Launches Nook For Android

Smartphone users can download, sync, and share e-books with the e-reader app.

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An Android-based e-reader application has been launched by Barnes & Noble, the bookselling giant said Thursday. Nook for Android will let users of Motorola Droid, HTC EVO, and other Android-based smartphones and devices shop for and wirelessly download more than one million e-books. It is the only Android e-reader app that enables users to share e-books, the bookseller said.

Nook for Android works on Android OS 1.6 devices and higher. In upcoming months, Barnes & Noble will also release an updated Nook app for the iPhone, iPad, and others. If customers have already downloaded new releases, bestsellers, and free classics to their Nook e-book reader or other Barnes & Noble e-reader-enabled device, they can sync those titles to their smartphone in a matter of seconds, so their library travels with them, Barnes & Noble said. More than a half million e-books are available for free, the bookseller said.

Nook for Android customers can also share eligible e-books for up to two weeks with Barnes & Noble's LendMe technology, which also works on the Nook e-reader, iPad, iPod Touch, and any PC loaded with the free Barnes & Noble e-reader software, the bookseller said.

"Nook for Android is customizable, fun, and easy to use and we're excited to deliver the most-requested version of our free eReading software to the growing number of mobile customers using Android-based devices," said Douglas Gottlieb, VP of digital products for Barnes & Noble.com, in a statement. "Android customers can enjoy the great Nook eReading experience on their mobile device, including access to our vast digital catalog and their personal Barnes & Noble digital library at their fingertips. And, of course, Android users can now enjoy Barnes & Noble's unique e-book lending feature to share their favorite e-books with friends."

Users can customize text with eight different font styles and five sizes, access a navigation bar, read in either landscape or portrait mode, and turn pages graphically with Nook for Android. The app also automatically syncs the last page read and bookmarks it.

In addition to Nook for Android, the bookseller also recently announced Nookstudy, an online software study platform for higher education, which it said will be available soon. Nook 3G (for $199) and Nook Wi-Fi ($149) e-book readers are also available from the bookseller. Other upcoming features this summer for Nook for Android will include highlights and notes, a search library and look-up feature, and library grid view, Barnes & Noble said.

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